Encounter Sunday April 2026

Matthew 15 ESV

22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

1. Patience in the waiting.

2. Persistence in praying/pursuing.

1. Patience in the waiting.

He didn’t answer her.

Matthew 15

25 She came and knelt before Him Saying “Lord help me”

Matthew 15 ESV

26 It’s not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.

Matthew 15 ESV

27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their MASTERS' table.”

HER FAITH WAS NOT FOCUSED ON BEING DESERVING OF IT.

Matthew 15 ESV

27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their MASTERS' table.”

Matthew 15 ESV

28 “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

OUR FAITH WILL GET GOD’S ATTENTION!

2. Persistence in praying/pursuing.

Luke 18 ESV

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

We are to always pray and not to lose heart!

Luke 11 ESV

8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

Luke 11 NIV

8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

We are to always pray and not to lose heart!

Our faith will get God's attention.

3. Praise in the Process 

1. Praise is a spiritual weapon against the enemy. 

2 Chronicles 20

¹⁸ Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. ¹⁹ And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.²⁰ And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” ²¹ And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”²² And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

Psalm 22

³ Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

2. Joy is the producer of our praise.

Where does your joy come from?

Happiness is based on happenings.

Joy is generated from our relationship with the Lord.

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Nehemiah 8

10 And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Praise produces joy because it moves our mind off our problems and back onto our position in Christ.

A lack of gratitude leads to an attitude that blinds you from seeing His goodness.

Comparison is the thief of all joy.

2 Corinthians 10 ESV

¹² Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.